Posts for tag: hockey

Winter is the season for all of our favorite indoor sports. Our feet are not to be forgotten about in the midst of all the excitement during this season. We have put together some tips to keep in mind when picking out your shoe gear for your winter sports.

Basketball Shoes

Basketball shoe gear comes in 3 main styles: High-tops, mid-tops and low-tops. Regardless of which style you prefer, always be sure to have someone properly measure your foot for your correct shoe size.

· High Tops - High-top basketball shoes offer the most ankle support, but will be a bit heavier than the other styles due to the extra material. If you are looking for the most supportive basketball shoe and can handle some extra weight, this is the shoe for you.

· Mid-tops - The mid-top stops at ankle level which allows more freedom and movement than the high-top and still provides sufficient ankle support. This is most popular among basketball players.

· Low-tops - The main advantage of this style is that it is light weight which allows players optimize speed and quickness. However, this style does not offer much ankle support.

Hockey Skates

Hockey skates should fit 1-1.5 sizes smaller than your street shoes. Your toes should barely touch the toe cap and have no more than 1/4 of an inch of space in the heel. Once the skates have been laced up, they should feel snug with the foot resting flat.

Volleyball Shoes

The keys to an ideal volleyball shoe are: cushioning, stability, breathability and something lightweight. Cushioning is especially major for an every day player or someone who plays in tournaments. The stability a player gets from these shoes is important as no other shoe is made for all the motions of volleyball. That is why it is important to purchase an actual volleyball shoe when playing instead of trying to use your every day running shoes. Breathability is also important as this is what keeps your feet cool and dry, so look for a shoe that has mesh incorporated into it which will promote breathability. Most volleyball shoes are already made lightweight to allow them to respond to your every move quickly.

Many sports fans have been glued to the TV this week watching the NHL hockey playoffs and cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks as they try winning their third Stanley Cup since 2010.

As a result of living so close to a championship-winning team, many kids across Lemont and beyond may have been prompted to pick up the sport in recent years.

Hockey has exploded in popularity. According to USA Hockey – thenational governing body for youth ice hockey in the U.S. -- national membership stood at 195,125 players in 1990-91. Last season, its membership jumped to 510,270.

According to Podiatry Today, hockey injuries fall into two categories -- high speed, low mass injuries from by a puck or stick that lead to contusions, lacerations and concussions. Then there are the low speed, high mass injuries caused by collisions with bodies or boards that usually result in sprains and fractures.

Injuries to the lower extremities account for roughly 27 percent of all hockey injuries, with 11 percent of those happening in the foot.

Meanwhile, among kids between the ages of 11 and 14, the injury rate is about one per 100 hours of playing time. Among players aged 18 to 21, the rate of injury is one per 11 hours of play. And in case you were wondering, pro players suffer injuries at a rate of one per seven hours of play – likely because of the intensity.

When it comes to hockey, sprains and strains are the most common type of injuries. In many cases, the best immediate treatment consists of R.I.C.E., which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

In addition, hockey can lead to the following:

Achilles tendinitis (When the tendon that connects the back of the leg to the heel becomes swollen and painful.)

Achilles tendon rupture (An injury to the back of the lower leg. If overstretched, the Achilles tendon can tear completely or partially. )

If you or someone in your family is suffering from a sports injury, call of office get started on your way back to health. Pain is never normal, and we can get many patients into our office within a day or two.